What you need to know to keep your home safe from Radon

Radon is a natural occurring radioactive gas that’s produced when uranium breaks down in the soil. The Environmental Protection Agency says the gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer, behind smoking. Illinois Schools recommend state schools test for the gas every five years. An in-depth report by 13 Investigates, found that recommendation is almost never being followed in our area. Out of the five biggest school districts in the area, only three schools were tested over the last decade. All the schools were at RPS 205. Dennis Early Childhood in 2011, Roosevelt Community Education Center in 2016, and Marsh Elementary in 2017. According to maps from the EPA, Winnebago County is a hot zone for radon with many areas coming in above the federal safety level of 4.0 pCi/L. ​